Sunday, June 29, 2008

It seems like all I think about these days is food. And there's a good reason for it: I'm having to rethink my whole approach to meal planning and grocery shopping. We got out first CSA delivery on Wednesday last week, and it has been a challenge to figure out how to use all the squash (all kinds!) we got, without ending up hating squash. I usually do my shopping on Sunday so that I'm ready for the whole week. I list all the meals we'll have Sunday to Thursday and buy everything I need. Now, though, I'm having to leave my menu a little more open-ended since I don't know what we'll get mid-week from the farm. This week, I'm guessing more squash.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

This salad was actually a meal we ate last week, but I just found the photo, and the colors are so great. It tasted even better! At the table, we added goat cheese and an easy blackberry vinaigrette I've been making. It's 1 part vinegar, 1 part blackberry syrup, and 3 parts olive oil. Yum.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

I made this bag for one of my lunchmates, Mr. Peanutbutter Jelly, as he's known around the office, because that's what he eats everyday. It was a plan we discussed when he still had about 2 weeks' worth of brown paper bags left. When I wasn't done sewing in time, he carried his lunch in the plastic bags that the paper ones came in, and then finally in a grocery store plastic bag. So, I think he was glad to get his lunch bag delivery!

The design was very much inspired by the lunch bag I carry, made by Julie. Mr. PBJ's bag is a little bigger, though, and needed more to close it at the top, so I came up with the buttons on the sides. They work pretty well and give it a true lunch sack shape.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Do you ever get so excited about something that you get way ahead of yourself in planning/dreaming? My brain is so full of ideas after visiting two different farms this weekend. I've got way too much to figure out--I can't believe I've got to go back to work tomorrow! I guess that gives me five days to decide exactly what's feasible and what will have to wait.

So the first farm was a pick-your-own blueberries operation. It was a picture perfect little farm. I keep meaning to plant my own blueberry bushes during the winter. It has to happen this year!

We picked 4 pounds, which should last a while. Can't wait to taste the blueberry pie. The first time I made this one, I deemed it 'the best thing I've ever made' and I still don't think it's been topped.

The other visit was for a bbq and tour of our CSA farm. It's run by a friendly couple--she's all about the animals--mostly goats and chickens--and he takes care of the veggies. If the CSA selections are like what we ate today, I'll be in heaven!

If I didn't have to work tomorrow, I might start ripping up the grass to farm the front and back yards:) So it's probably best that my enthusiasm has a work week to be reigned in.

Monday, June 2, 2008

This weekend, E and I finally got the last of the supplies we needed to do our first mini print run of the design I created in photoshop. I like to think of this as my (mini) bolt of custom fabric. I think we're starting to grasp all the variables of screen printing. We've got more ink colors on the way, so it'll be fun to print another 'colorway':)

I'm still interested in uploading a design to be printed by spoonflower since they have the capability of doing multi-color prints. I wonder if anyone has used their service and received their custom fabric yet. I'll be interested to hear how it went.